Family and Child Protective Services Unit

Target Service Users

The Family and Child Protective Services Units of the Social Welfare Department provide services to children, individuals and main family members affected by the following problems: 1) child abuse, 2) spouse / cohabitant battering, 3) custody/guardianship disputes including international child abduction matters.

Service Objectives 1. To prevent occurrence of child abuse and spouse / cohabitant battering incidents, help the victims and their family members overcome the trauma brought about by child abuse and spouse / cohabitant battering, and assist the families with the problems of child abuse and spouse / cohabitant battering restore normal functioning through a package of co-ordinated services to the victims, abusers and their family members.

2. To safeguard the interest of the children affected by custody/guardianship disputes through the provision of social investigation reports to the Courts and statutory supervision (as ordered by the Courts), counselling and other tangible services.

Service Scope 1. Public Enquiries - To deal with enquiries concerning child abuse, spouse / cohabitant battering and custody/guardianship matters, and to receive reports on child abuse and spouse / cohabitant battering.

2. Outreaching Service - To reach out to the victims and conduct initial assessment promptly upon receiving report on suspected child abuse and spouse / cohabitant battering cases. - To provide crisis intervention. - To arrange or escort the victims to receive medical examination or temporary care at hospitals or other institutions, if required.

3. Investigation - To initiate contact and discuss with the victims of suspected child abuse, spouse / cohabitant battering, and their family members and parties concerned for understanding the family background, the problems/difficulties faced by the families and the views of the victims and the concerned family members/parties to facilitate intervention and treatment. - To conduct joint investigation with the police on some of the suspected child abuse cases. - To work out welfare plans for the victims and their families through multi-disciplinary case conferences. - To assist the Courts to conduct social assessment on child custody and access matters and to make recommendations to the Courts.

4. Casework Service - To provide statutory supervision, counselling and co-ordinate follow-up services such as clinical psychological service, refuge service, referral for financial assistance, compassionate rehousing, legal service, schooling arrangement and employment etc.

5. Group Work Service - To organize supportive, educational or therapeutic groups for target service users.

6. Preventive Service - To raise public awareness of the problem of child abuse, spouse / cohabitant battering and the importance of “co-parenting” after divorce and encourage individuals or families suffering from the problems of child abuse and spouse / cohabitant battering to seek early assistance through publicity and public education activities. - To foster co-operation among various professionals in the district to combat child abuse and spouse / cohabitant battering.

Entry of the Service - Victims of child abuse or spouse / cohabitant battering, abusers and their family members may approach or be referred by other agencies to the concerned Family and Child Protective Services Unit for assistance. - Children and their families affected by custody/guardianship disputes or international child abduction matter are referred for services by the Courts, Secretary for Justice or other concerned authorities in accordance with the relevant Ordinances.

Exit of the Service The service will terminate upon the mutual agreement between the service user and the social worker or under the following situations: - child abuse and/or spouse / cohabitant battering elements have subsided, or - victim of child abuse has reached the age of 18 or does not live in Hong Kong, or - the child custody/guardianship matters have been settled by the Courts or the Supervision Order granted by the Courts has expired. Family and Child Protective Services Units Tel No. Fax No. Email Family and Child Protective Services Unit 2835 2733 3107 0051 [email protected] (Central Western, Southern and Islands) Address: Room 2313, 23/F, Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Family and Child Protective Services Unit 2231 5859 2164 1771 [email protected] (Eastern and Wanchai) Address: Rm. 229, 2/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong. Family and Child Protective Services Unit 2707 7681 2717 7453 [email protected] (Kwun Tong) Address: Rm. 502, 5/F, Nan Fung Commercial Centre, 19 Lam Lok Street , Kowloon Bay, Kowloon . Family and Child Protective Services Unit 3188 3563 3421 2535 [email protected] (Wong Tai Sin and Sai Kung) Address : 3/F, Wong Tai Sin Community Centre, 104 Ching Tak Street, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon. Family and Child Protective Services Unit 2247 5373 2729 6613 [email protected] (Sham Shui Po) Address: G/F, Cheung Sha Wan Community Centre, 55 Fat Tseung Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. Family and Child Protective Services Unit 3583 3254 3583 3137 [email protected] (Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong) k Address: Room 803, 8/F, Kowloon Government Offices, 405 Nathan Road, Kowloon Family and Child Protective Services Unit 2158 6680 2681 2557 [email protected] (Shatin) Address: Rm. 716, 7/F, Shatin Government Offices, 1 Sheung Wo Che Road , Shatin, New Territories. Family and Child Protective Services Unit 3183 9323 3104 1357 [email protected] (Tai Po and North) Address: 4/F., Tai Po Complex, 8 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po, New Territories. Family and Child Protective Services Unit 2618 5710 2618 7976 [email protected] (Tuen Mun) Address: 4/F, On Ting/Yau Oi Community Centre, On Ting Estate, Tuen Mun, New Territories. Family and Child Protective Services Unit 2940 7350 2940 6421 [email protected] (Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing) k Address: 21/F, Tsuen Wan Government Offices, 38 Sai Lau Kok Road , Tsuen Wan, New Territories. ＊Family and Child Protective Services Unit 2445 4224 2445 9077 [email protected] (Yuen Long) Address: G/F., Wah Long House, Tin Wah Estate, Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long, New Territories.

＊There may be a change in the address of the Unit. Please call the unit to check if needed.

Operating Hour Monday to Friday: 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Hotlines Social Welfare Department Hotline 2343 2255

In case of emergency, callers can dial “999” to seek assistance from the Police.

Social Welfare Department Fax Enquiry 2763 5874 Website http://www.swd.gov.hk Number CEASE Crisis Centre 24-hour Hotline 18281 Website http://ceasecrisis.tungwahcsd.or g Family Crisis Support Centre 24-hour 18288 Website http://fcsc.caritas.org.hk Hotline

January 2013